Bali - Day 2 Part D

Free and Easy Bali - Day 2 Itinerary 
1) Customised day tour to Bedugul and Tanah Lot
  - Taman Ayun Temple
  - Rice Terrace at Pacung (Lunch)
  - Bedugul (Bratan Lake) - Ulundanu Temple
  - Bali Botanical Garden
  - Coffee Plantation (Bali Oka Agriculture)
  - Sunset at Tanah Lot Temple
2) Fine Dining at Semiyak
3) Massage at Kuta

Before reaching the temple, you will passed by a big busy market selling lots stuff and food.  Do try out their coconut and grilled corn which were cheap and nice.You will need to walk some distance before reaching the temple gate which opens to the sea.

Tanah Lot Market and Temple Gate

Tanah Lot Temple was built in 16th century by a Javanese priest named Danghyang Nirartha. The Tanah Lot temple is on a big rock a few metres away from the land. During high tide, it will be surrounded by seawaters.  We were lucky to reach there during low tide such that we can walk across the muddy land to the base of the temple.

Tanah Lot Temple

The temple is opened only to Balinese Hindus who are registered in this area, it is prohibited to tourists or even Balinese Hindus who are not registered in this area. However, a Hindu ritual/blessing is offered to the public at the base of the temple. 

A long queue was formed at the bottom of the temple, consisting of few locals and mostly tourists. "Worshippers" can cleanse their hands and face and have a sip of the water flowing out of a bamboo pipe as a symbolic of purification. The temple priest will then sprinkled holy water, pressed some grains rice on the forehead and put a flower behind the left ear. There was a basket for donations by those who had received the blessing.

Tanah Lot is situated in the west and is a great spot for sunset.  At dusk, the beautiful shades in the sky and bright orange rays cast on the waters was fantastic. There is a stretch of cafes opposite the temple which offer a good view, be prepared to pay a little more for the view. You can also choose to grab a spot at the side of the stairs or the patch of green at the end of cafes to enjoy the beautiful sunset.

Sea view at the back of the temple

Tanah Lot before sunset

Sunset at Tanah Lot